Jun.9 (GMM) Felipe Nasr says three other F1 teams were interested in signing him before he started his road to the grid with Sauber. Although impressive on debut in 2015, the 22-year-old Brazilian has had to continually fight the public notion that he is a ‘pay driver’. Nasr has brought the strong backing and colours […]
Wolff plays down Hamilton ‘radio coaching’
Jun.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down suggestions Mercedes did not treat its drivers equally during the Canadian grand prix. During the Montreal race, leader Lewis Hamilton’s engineer Peter Bonnington told the British driver that while Rosberg has no problems with fuel consumption, the German’s brake situation was “critical”. But when Rosberg asked about the […]
Honda president set to gauge McLaren progress
Jun.9 (GMM) McLaren-Honda is still united despite a horror start to the project, boss Eric Boullier insists. Star driver Fernando Alonso let his frustration show on the radio during the Canadian grand prix, but Boullier says the Spaniard knows 2015 is little more than a “test year”. “It’s a strange situation for Alonso,” said Italy’s […]
Red Bull expecting ‘worst’ home race – Marko
Jun.9 (GMM) Red Bull does not see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, Dr Helmut Marko has warned. The former champions had a particularly bad weekend on Montreal’s long straights, but also notable was the dwindling smile on the face of Daniel Ricciardo. “Daniel struggled for pace all weekend,” said team boss […]
‘No excuses’ after Raikkonen spin – Arrivabene
Jun.8 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene struggled to hide his anger after the Canadian grand prix. With Sebastian Vettel struggling through the field following reliability problems and a penalty, Ferrari’s podium challenge was left to teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who is pushing to have his contract extended for 2016. Boss Arrivabene already had the Finn on notice to […]
Marko blames F1 for smaller Austria GP crowd
Jun.8 (GMM) Red Bull is struggling to fill the grandstands ahead of its second race as a formula one race promoter. Last year, the energy drink company achieved a full house of 95,000 spectators for race day at the Austrian grand prix. But the local news agency APA says only 60-70,000 spectators are expected at […]
Schumacher’s son breaks hand in crash
Jun.8 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s son ended his second weekend as a single seater race driver in hospital. Amid intense scrutiny and global media interest, the 16-year-old German won a race on his Formula 4 debut in April. But round two of the German junior series was much more difficult for the son of a F1 […]
Change rules or say ‘goodbye’ to Renault – Horner
Jun.8 (GMM) Renault will probably quit formula one if the ‘engine freeze’ rules are not changed. That is the claim of Christian Horner, boss of the French carmaker’s premier customer Red Bull. At present, strong rumours indicate Renault is unhappy with its current situation and is looking at buying back the Enstone based team it […]
F1 must end ‘incomprehensible rules’ – Marchionne
Jun.8 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne on Sunday made his first appearance at a grand prix since taking over as Ferrari president. He said in Montreal that the work done by the resurgent Maranello team and its new boss Maurizio Arrivabene so far in 2015 has been “exceptional”. “There is nothing to regret,” said the Italian-born Canadian, […]
No corruption scandal in F1 – Todt
Jun.8 (GMM) F1 will not suffer the same sort of scandal that is currently gripping the world of football. That is the claim of FIA president Jean Todt. Currently, officials of FIFA, the world football governing body, are caught up in accusations of fraud, collusion and bribery. “There is no way that the FIA could […]
McLaren offers ‘more resources’ to help Honda
Jun.8 (GMM) McLaren has offered to help works engine partner Honda to end the current crisis before it becomes “embarrassing”. Team figures have put a brave and united face on the struggles throughout 2015 to date, but Canada was a particularly bad weekend marred by performance, fuel consumption and reliability problems. Fernando Alonso showed the […]
Alonso still happy with ‘risky’ McLaren move
Jun.8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso showed the first signs of frustration on Sunday as he accused McLaren-Honda of making him look like an “amateur”. Asked to save fuel during the Canadian grand prix, the Spaniard hit back via radio: “I don’t want (to), I don’t want!” Told that he would have “big problems” later in the […]
Le Mans switch not tempting Hulkenberg yet
Jun.5 (GMM) As far as his racing calendar goes, Nico Hulkenberg is just about to hit a new high gear. The German will contest Sunday’s Canadian grand prix for Force India, and then immediately board a plane bound for France and the fabled 24 Hours of Le Mans. He is uniquely splitting his time between […]
Hamilton unmoved two weeks after Monaco
Jun.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton insisted he has “moved on” after Monaco, as reporters pressed hard about the strategy blunder that cost him a deserved victory. The world champion has said little in the two weeks since that ill-fated extra pitstop, and it is believed the only contact he had with Mercedes was a single email. […]
McLaren, Button play down 2016 split rumours
Jun.5 (GMM) McLaren has played down reports it is already looking to replace Jenson Button for 2016. Britain’s Sun newspaper predicted the Honda-powered team could “boot” the 2009 world champion despite him having a two-year contract in his pocket. The Sky broadcaster quoted a McLaren insider as dismissing the speculation as “tittle-tattle”. And just last […]
‘Aggressive’ Ferrari to race new engine – Vettel
Jun.5 (GMM) Ferrari has decided to race its performance-upgraded engine this weekend in Canada. Earlier, although the Italian team had traded in some in-season performance ‘tokens’, it was unclear if the new engine would actually be used this weekend. But in Montreal, Sebastian Vettel confirmed the news. “Hopefully it is a step in the right […]
Teams should not decide F1 rules – Wurz
Jun.5 (GMM) Alex Wurz has added his concerns to the current governance of formula one. Wurz, a former Benetton and Williams driver, is today the president of the F1 drivers’ union GPDA. In Monaco, the body launched a wide-ranging online fan survey, amid apparent dwindling global interest in the sport and complaints from F1 drivers […]
Pirelli not sure Michelin wants F1 contract
Jun.5 (GMM) Pirelli chief Marco Tronchetti Provera has admitted it is not clear if the Italian company will face any rivals to remain F1’s sole tyre supplier beyond 2016. Already in Monaco, Pirelli’s chairman and CEO made a rare appearance in the paddock to officially confirm his desire to win the next official supply contract […]
Raikkonen ‘doesn’t need’ Arrivabene’s homework
Jun.5 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he does not need to be given homework. Refusing so far to sign the 2016 ‘option’ in the Finn’s current contract, Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene left Monaco insisting Raikkonen must improve. “So I give him homework — to write a hundred times ‘I must do better in qualifying’,” the charismatic […]
‘No driver problem’ at Red Bull – Horner
Jun.5 (GMM) Christian Horner has defended Red Bull as rumours swirl around the struggling F1 giant. The energy drink-owned outfit’s title run ended just as Renault’s obvious troubles with the new ‘power unit’ era began. But Red Bull also lost its quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. Asked if that hurt the team, boss Horner insisted […]